Folding box machine



T. R. BAKER Erm. 2,655,843

FOLDING BOX MACHINE Oct. 20, 1953 Filed July 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l conca o no A A TTORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 T. R. BAKER ET A1.

FOLDING Box MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1951 JNVENToR. lamasaker Frank/{Uefef BY #mi 9. @MMA/P I A ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 T. R. BAKER ET Al. 2,655,843

FOLDING BOX MACHINE Filed July 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 #ru-MA 5. "I". ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 Filed July 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

llamaskaker an/Mleef BY 4o-M *5' fauna-2.12

"M A Trop/v51 Oct. 20, 1953 T. R. BAKER ETAL 2,555,843

FOLDING BOX MACHINE i Filed July 16. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. Thomas. l?. Baker Fmnk M lef/ef lafenteci ct. 20, 1953 its,

TENT OFFICE FDING BOX MACHINE,

Thomas' R. Baker, Sunnyvale, and Fi'ankll.` Le-Y fief,V San Francisco; Calif., assignors to Bemiss- Jason' Machine' Co., Inc., Redwood', Calif., av corporation of- California Application'July'l'G, 1951, Serialf'No. 236,926

lo'Claims. d,

This invention relates to'l improvements in folding box machines of the type in which flat, or nearly flat blanks of foldab'ler sheet materialr for example paperboard, are forced through a folding die by'a plunger', thereby folding the blanks into hollow boxV form.

The invention olfers particular advantages if applied to machines of the aforementioned gene eral type which, in addition to folding the' blank during its passage through the die', also perform locking operations on the' blank to lock certain blank portions, such as walls, panels, tabs, or naps together, so that these blank portions thereafter remain in box forming' position without extraneous connecting means', such' as adlie-sive, staples, rivets or thelike;

However, the invention is' not limited in its application to machines for the glueless assembly ofgfolding boxes, but offers many advantages if applied to die-an'd-plunger machinesfor assembling glued boxes.

A major factor determining the economy' of machines of thee aforementioned' character is the speed with which' thev machine can beI operated. The folding operations involved in the setting'upfof'self-lbcking boxes are' quite com'- piex, in that it is necessary not' only to` fold the several wall panels into their' proper angular position with respect' to the bottom' panel, but itis also necessary' to-foldadditional flapsY and tabs into angular positions with respect" to the1 wall panels to which4 tney are articulated and; to insert certain' lock tabs into` apertures' or slits to form locks between the panels;

In boxes in which the locks are concealed, the assembly operations of the box include' folding operations, followed by the insertion of certain' lock tabs into apertures or slits. All these oper-Y ations must be performed during passage of the box' blank through the die, -and they must be performed successively. It is therefore evident that the" length of the stroke which the plunger must' take in forcing trie' blank through' the die is proportional to the number of operations' to' be performed on tlie blank. It is" theoretically possible to perform quite' a number' ofA operations on the blank during its passage' through` the die by making the stroke of the plunger sufficiently long. From an economic point of vew, however', this in' undesirable'b'ecause'thelonger the stroke, the slower the'rate at which boxes can be produced by the' machine'.

The present invention is concerned with certain improvements which result in a reduction of the length of the stroke which the' plunger 2; bastotravelf to completev al certain number of folding andlocking' operations on the boxk blank. The shortening ofthe' plunger stroke makes it possible' t'o-inc'rea'se the output of the machine' by increasing its operating speed.

The various' objects, features, and advantages' of this invention will appear more fully from the' detailed description' which follows accompanied-1 by drawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of: the invention; The inventionv also consists' in certain new'and' original features of construction and, combination of elementsliereiiafter' set forth and claimed.

Although4 the characteristic vfeatures of. the invention which are believed tol be novel will be' particularly pennedr out in the claims appended' hereto,- the invention itself', its' objects and advantages; and the manner in which it may be carriedv out may be better'` understood by' referring to the following description taken in con-v nection with the' accompanying drawings forming a part of it which;

Figure 1 is' a perspective view of box' machine embodying the present invention, tlie` machine-being ofthe gluel'ess' interlocking' type', and shown in' a position in which a blankis being transferred from a magazine to the die Figure' 2 is a perspective view' ofV the' box' form'- ing' mechanismv after completion of' initial: foldfingoperations and partial insertion of' the blank' into the die;

Figures isa perspective-view of the mechanism andI blankof-Figure 2` shortly` before the blank is engaged by' the-'main plunger;

Figure 4 is' a perspective detail' view showing the main plunger and. die" in' the position in which the locking of the panels' commences;

Figure 5i is a perspective View of the' mechanism of Figure 4 at an advanced stage of opera-- tion;-

Figure Gris a perspective View' ofthe die mech'- anislnturned. upside down ;l

Figure 7 is an end view ofthe machi'le sho-wn in Figure l but ata later phase of the operation;

Figure 8 iSa-pIanview of the blank shown in thel preceding figures;y and.

Figure 9 is a perspective view ofthe assembled. box, as it is delivered by the machine.

In` the following` description and in the claims variousdetails will be identified by specific names for' convenience.- The' names, however, are intended toi be as generic in their application as the4 art' will pern'lil'f.4 Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying, and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that the details may be modied in various respects without departure from the broad principles of the invention and that the invention may be applied to other structures than the one shown.

The folding box machine shown in Figures l to 7 produces boxes by folding a blank and interlocking the box corners in a suitable manner to form a rigid self-sustaining box without gluing or stapling. Gluelessly interlocked boxes are quite popular because of their low cost, the high production rate at which they can be set up and because of the low cost and the relatively small size of the machine required for setting them up. The glueless interlock of such boxes generally comprises iiaps on the side or end walls which are inserted through cuts or apertures at the corners of the box. A preferred form of lock is that in which the lock aps are concealed so that the box presents the general appearance of a glued box.

The machine comprises a supporting framework I9 to which a base II is secured by bolts I2. A drive shaft I3 carrying a chain gear I4 is mounted in bearings I and I6. The drive shaft is driven through a chain I? from a motor or some other suitable source of power (not shown) and carries a crank I8. A connecting rod I9 connects the crank I8 with a cross head 2li vertically movable on posts 2I and 22 on the base I I. The cross head has a plunger 23 attached to it movable through the folding aperture 24 of a die 25. The axis of the die and of the plunger is substantially vertical in the illustrated form of machine. The plunger 23 has a head portion 25, secured to the cross head 20 by bolts 21. The bottom surface 28 of the plunger is substantially rectangular and approximately equal in size to the bottom panel of the box to be formed.

Turning now briefly to Figure 8 for an illustration of a representative form of box blank, the blank A comprises a bottom panel 29 to which side wall panels 30 and 3| are articulated along side fold lines 32 and 33. End wall panels 34 and 35 are articulated to the main or bottom panel 29 along end fold lines 3B and 31.

A cover panel 38 extends from the wall panel 35 along a cover fold line 39 and has a tuck flap articulated to it along a hinge line 4I. A win- I,

dow 42 is cut from the stock of the cover panel 38 and of the wall panel 30 and is suitably tted with a sheet of transparent material 43.

The glueless interlocks for the several wall panels of the box comprise lock flaps 44, 45, 46 and 41 articulated to the wall panels 30 and 3l along fold lines 48, 49, 59 and 5I. Side flaps 52, 53, 54, and extend from the end wall panels 34 and 35 along fold lines 56, 51, 58 and 59. Angular cuts 55, 6I, 62 and 53 are formed in the end wall panels and in the side iaps and extend preferably across the aforementioned fold lines 56, 51, 58 and 59. Dust aps 64 and 65 are articulated to the end walls 34 and 35 along fold lines 65 and 61.

The lock flaps 44, 45, 46 and 41 are insertable into the angular cuts 55, 5I, 62 and 63 and abut edges of the cuts with their locking edges 58, 39, 1i) and 1I, preferably in edge-to-edge position.

Returning now to Figure l, the main plunger 23 has rectangular corner portions 12 adjacent the bottom surface 28, the corners near the top of the plunger being cut away as shown at 13 to facilitate the insertion of the lock flaps of the blank, as will later be seen.

The die 25 comprises a supporting plate 14 mounted on the base I I by bolts 15 and 1G. Four ank plates 11, 13, 19 and 39 of spring-hard sheet material are secured to the supporting plate 14 by bolts BI and extend into the central aperture 82 of the plate in the manner of a hopper.

As is seen from Figure 6, the central aperture 92 of the plate 14 is roughly of the shape of a cross. The flank plates 18 and 89 extend far into the plate aperture and their end portions 83 and 84 are substantially parallel with each other and vertical. The iiank plates 11 and 19 are relatively short and end at 85 and 85. Their general slope is downwardly continued by lower flank plates 11 and 19. The lower flank plates 11' and 19 are fastened to transverse shafts Si' and 59. The shaft 31 is tiltably mounted in posts 89 and 9i), and the shaft 8B is mounted in posts 3i and 92.

A spring 93 is attached to arms 34 and 95 on the shafts 81 and 88 and permits deflection of the ank plates 11 and 19 in direction to enn large the die aperture 24 when the main plunger with a box blank thereon passes through the die. The normal inclination of the flank elements 11 and 19' and the spacing of their bottommost edges 95 and 91 from each other is adjus/table by arms 93 and 99 clamped on the shafts 81 and 89 by bolts Iil and IGI. The arms 9B and 99 bear with their ends against the underside of the plate 'i4 and thus maintain the flank plates 11 and 19' in the properly inclined posin tion under the action of the spring 93 as shown in Figure 6.

Referring further to Figure 6, it is seen of the flank plates 18 and 89. Shafts 905 and iii? are mounted in these posts with freedom to oscillate. Each shaft carries a pair of tuckers 55, E99, iiii and HI. The tuckers are at the corners at the die aperture 24- and are projectable towards, and retractable away from, the path of the plunger by oscillation of the shafts 956 and 91.

Aetuating levers I I2 and I I3 are secured to the shafts IMS and |01 and normally extend into the path of the plunger. If struck by a box blank on the plunger, the levers i i2 and I I3 tilt the shafts H95 and IIl'i and project the tuckers IFBB, HB9, Ii and III into the path of the plunger, as will later be described in greater detail with reference to Figure 5. Tilting of the shafts |55 and Il is opposed by a spring H4 attached to arms II5 and Il@ on the shafts IG@ and E91. rihe extent to which the levers I I2 and IIS may project into the aperture 24 may be adjusted by stops I I1 and H3 against which the backs of the arms II2 and I I3 normally rest under the pull of the spring H4.

The flank plates 11, 15, 19 and 8i) together with their lower extensions 11 and 19 constitute the main die, and the aperture 24 bordered by these ank plates may be considered the main die aperture.

A further, or auxiliary die is provided spaced from, and in advance of, the main die. Turning to Figure l, it is seen that four angular posts IIB, I2il, I2I and |22 extend above the die plate 14 and are secured thereto by bolts I23. In the illustrated form of die the posts II9, 120, I2I and niet posts m2, |93, |64 and m5 are mounted in backV accresce' 22 are of identical form. It will therefore be suiiicient to describe one post.

Referring to the post H5, it is seen that two vertical wall portions IZ@ and 25 are joined at a corner 25. The post is recessed below its top surface I2? at 28 to provide a downwardly facing shoulder 25 against which edges of the box blank may abut for the purpose of locking the blank in partly inserted position in the auxiliary die.

The posts IIS, 2E,.2I and 22 border a substantially cross-shaped die aperture or space between them through which a blank must rst pass before reaching the main die underneath.

In passing through the auxiliary die, the blanks are subjected to certain folding operations which are thereafter supplemented or completed by the folding operations performed in the main die. An auxiliary plunger is provided which forces box blanks through the auxiliary die. fn the illustrated form of machine the auxiliary plunger is combined with a blank feeding mechanism which will be described in greater detail after a brief consideration of the feeding mechanism proper.

The base II has a rigid gatey supporting plate 55 attached to it which carries two dowel pins 3I near its upper end anda central bolt 32 on which a wing nut 33 ts. A magazine gate I3@ is attached to the supporting plate 35 by means cf the dowel pins I3 I, the bolt 52, and the wing nut 33.

The magazine gate E34 carries plates 35 from which blank supporting rods 36 extend rearwardly. A horizontal stack of blanks 37 rests on the rods I3'5 and the frontmost blank is retained in the gate by means of retaining plates 38, ISS and 55 which overlap the edges of the blank slightly. The magazine gate thus supports the blanks in an accurately defined position with respect to the base II and the die 25 thereon.

The rearrnost blank of the stack of blanks is engaged by an arm ILII of a pusher 42 which travels on a prismatic track 45 and urges the blanks towards the magazine gate. The pusher 42 is advanced by a helical spring type of conveyor IM. Box blanks are individually withdrawn from the magazine gate by a suction feeder which forms the subject matter of a patent to Baker and Pagendarm No. 2,624,248 (application Ser. No. 67,612 led December 28, 1948). The feeder will now be described in suiiicient detail for a full understanding of this invention.

The suction feeder comprises a feeder arm 45 carrying a pair of suction cups I 55. The arm 45 is hollow and serves as a suction duct to apply a partial vacuum to the suction cups at proper intervals. A flexible duct Ili'f is attached to the end 55 of the arm and leads to a suitable source of vacuum (not shown). The arm 55 is rigidly secured to a bracket 55 having an elongated guideway 55 engaging the cylindrical outer surface of a ball-bearing 5I. The ball-bearing I5 is mounted on a stud 52 on a supporting plate 53 which, similar to the gate-supporting plate Idil is -rigidly and permanently attached to the base I The bracket 59 of the feeder arm 45 is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 55 at 55. The bell crank lever 54 is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 53 at 55. Its pivotal axis is substantially normal to the vertical plane in which the plunger axis and the magazine axis lie. The bell crank lever has two arms, one arm |51 being represented by the distance between the pivotal axes 55 and I55, the other arm 53 being represented by the distance between the pivotal axis 55 and the axis of a pin 59 at which one end of the connecting rod |60 is attached.

The other end of the connecting rod 50 is pivotally connected to a rocking lever IBI at 62. The rocking lever IISI is pivoted in the framework I0 of the machine about an axis 53 and carries a cam follower 55 which engages the periphery of a cam 65 on the drive shaft I3. The rocking lever I5 is under the action of helical compression springs I55 bearing with one end against the rocking lever proper and with the other end against a bracket IGI secured to the framework I0.

The cam 65 is fast on the drive shaft I3 and oscillates the rocking lever IGI about its axis I63. The lever 5I, in turn, causes the bell crank lever |55 to oscillate about the pivot IE5 to move the feeder arm M5 along a path which has three distinct portions.

There is firstly one phase of the motion dur-l ing which the suction cups move towards and away from the magazine gate. During this translatory phase of the motion the suction cups approach the frontmost blank in the magazine, grasp it, and withdraw it substantially parallel to itself, whereby the edges of the blank are caused to slip past the edges of the retaining plates 33, 35 and i115. During this phase of the motion, the arm U55 of the feeder and the guideway I5Il are substantially horizontal.

During the next phase of the motion the feeder arm 55 pivots about the axis of the ball-bear-` ing 55 and swings in an arc towards the die. Figure 1 illustrates this rotatory phase of the motion, which ends when the blank A is vertically above the die.

During the third phase of the motion the feeder arm 55 moves vertically towards the die, in the same manner as a plunger. The main plunger 23 is near its highest point at this moment and out of the way of the feeder arm. The vertical motion of the feeder arm which, again, involves a translatory motion of the guideway 50 with re spect to the ball-bearing I5I, but in a vertical direction, is taken advantage of and utilized for performing certain folding operations on the blank by forcing the blank A into the auxiliary die between the posts Ilil, 20, IZI and |22.

rIhe feeding mechanism thus becomes an auxiliary plunger and is, for this purpose, equipped with folding elements which cooperate with the elements which constitute the auxiliary die.

The auxiliary plunger basically consists of an assembly of folding rules or edges or surfaces about which the box blank is folded as the blank enters the auxiliary die.

In the illustrated form of mechanism the auxiliary plunger consists of two identical sheet metal structures 58 and its secured to the feeder arm 45 by bolts I'I. Each sheet metal structure comprises a top portion Ill from which two skirt portions I'IZ and I'IS extend substantially at right angles. The skirt portions 72 and 73 are spaced sufciently close to enter between the angular posts, for example between posts I2@ and 2I. The bottom edges of the skirt portions engage the box blank A adjacent certain score lines and act as folding rules or folding guides, about which portions of the blank are folded along such score lines.

Wing portions 74 and 15 extend at right anosseuses` 7 gies from the skirt portions and their bottom edges likewise act as folding rules or guides for other portions of the blank.

The surfaces of the sheet metal structures |68 and |69 which carry the folding edges are substantially parallel to the vertical surfaces of the angular posts IIS, |20, |2I and |22 and cooperate with the posts in folding certain portions of the box blank.

As previously explained, the suction feeder carrying the box blank A together with the auxiliary plunger elements with which the feeder is combined moves toward and into the auxiliary die. Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, it is evident that certain portions of the blank which later form the concealed corner lock strike the posts IIS, |20, I2| and |22 as the auxiliary plunger moves downwardly. The side naps 52, 53, d and 55 of the blank are thus folded substantially at right angles, with respect to the end wall panels 34 and 35, and in a similar` manner the lock flaps 44, 45, 45 and 11 are folded with respect to the side lwall panels 3i) and 3| from which they extend.

At, or near the lowermost position of the auxiliary plunger and feeder the suction is relieved and the auxiliary plunger and feeder begins its return towards the magazine gate to pick up the next blank. Figure 3 illustrates this phase of the operation. The blank A is securely held in the auxiliary die by reason of the fact that the folded elements of the box blank, the lock naps 44, 45, 45 and 41 and the side naps 52, 53, 54 and 55 engage the downwardly facing shoulders |25 near the top of the posts.

During the return motion of the feeder towards the magazine gate the main plunger 23 descends and forces the blank through the main die 25, thereby completing the folding and locking operations on the blank. This phase of the .assembly operation will now be described.

The bottom surface 28 of the Amain plunger strikes the bottom panel 29 of the box blank A locked in the auxiliary die (Figure 3). The wall panels 3i), 3|, 34 and 35 of the blank strike the iiank plates 11, 11', 18, 19, 19 and ySI) and assume an upright position with respect to the bottom panel 29. The side flaps 52, 53, 54 and 55 :assume a position substantially parallel with respect to the side surfaces of the plunger. Preferably the plunger is recessed at |16 adjacent the corners 12 to accommodate the folded side flaps. The recess is particularly well visible in Figure 4 showing on an enlarged scale the location of the various portions of the blank, of the auxiliary die and of the main die. Due to the fact that the angular cuts 60, 5I, 62 and 53 intersect the corner fold lines 53, 51, 5t and 59, the cuts open automatically when the side flaps are folded, and the lock flaps 44, 45, fit and i1 enter the apertures thus formed.

As the lock flaps move into the open cuts they tend to encounter an increasing amount of friction, due to wedge-action of the board near the ends of the cuts. Thetuckers |08, |03, I|0 and iii at the four corners` of the main die are provided speoically to relieve this friction by widening the apertures while the lock flaps are being inserted.

As the plunger moves through the die, the plunger with the blank thereon strikes the actuating levers I I2 and I3 (Figure 6.) with the result that the tuckers are moved towards the path of the plunger. This action is particularly `well shown in Figures 4 and 5, Figure 4 showing the tucker II at the beginning of its movement to- 8' wards the plunger and Figure 5 showing the tucker I 0 in its fully projected position. As previously described, the corner of the plunger is cut away at 13, permitting the box blank to be readily flexed by the tucker, so that the lock ap 41 enters freely into the cut 63.

When the wall panels 33, 3|, 34 and 35 reach their nal position at right angles with respect to the bottom panel 29, the locking edges 53, 69, 10 and 1I (Figure 8) snap into engaging and locking position with the corresponding portions of the cuts 50, 6I, `|52 and 63. At the lowerrnost position of the .main plunger the outer edges of the box blank are slightly below the bottommost edges 96 and 51 of the flank plates 11 and i3 as well as below the bottom edges of the flank plates 13 and 80. As the plunger begins its return stroke, the box blank is stripped off the plunger by these bottom Aedges for convenient removal from the machine in a convenient mannner.

Instead of utilizing the bottom edges 93 and 91 for stripping the box from the plunger, the ends of the levers I|2 and II3 may be employed for the vsame purpose.

summarizing briefly the operation of the rnachine, the auxiliary plunger and feeder removes blanks from the magazine and deposits them in the auxiliary die thereby performing initial folcling operations, particularly on .the locking elements of the box blank. During this phase of the operation the main plunger is retracted. The auxiliary plunger and feeder then move out of the way of the main plunger which forces the blank through the main die and completes the folding and locking operations.

Thus the total stroke required for setting up the box is split into two portions, the rst portion of the stroke being performed by the auxiliary plunger and feeder, the second portion of the stroke being performed by the main plunger, The length of the stroke of the main plunger can thus be made relatively short permitting extremely rapid operation of the machine.

The invention has been described and explained by reference to a specific form of machine. It will be apparent, however, to persons skilled inthe box machine art that numerous modifications, additions, omissions, substitutions and other changes may be made without departing from the principles and the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for setting up folding boxes from flat box blanks, the device comprising, a main plunger; a main die having a die aperture through which said main plunger is movable; an auxiliary die in advance of said main die; a combined auxiliary plunger and feeder, including suction means for grasping 'a blank; a magazine having a withdrawal gate through which blanks are Withdrawn; means for mounting said main plunger for straight line movement through said dies; Lmeans for supporting said auxiliary plunger on the side of the path of the main plunger with freedom of oscillatory movement about an axis angular 'with regard to the main plunger axis, into yand out of the path of the main plunger and with freedom of translatory movement towards, and away from, said dies, and towards, and away from, said gate; and means for moving said main plunger and said auxiliary plunger in timed relationship.

2. A blank feeding and box forming unit for paperbox machines the unit comprising; a base; a magazine gate mounted on said base; a box forming die mounted on said base, said die havplunger track for guiding said main plunger for movement through said auxiliary die portion and said main die aperture; a feeder head including suction means; folding rules on said feeder hea-d cooperating with said auxiliary die portion for folding a box blank grasped by said suction means when said head 4enters said auxil iary die portion; an arm for supporting said feeder head; means on said base for supporting said gripper arm on the side of the path of the main plunger with freedom of oscillatory movement about an axis angular with regard to the main plunger axis, into and out of, the path of the main plunger and with freedom of translatory movement towards and away from, said dies, `and towards and away from, said gate; and means for moving said main plunger and said gripper arm alternately towards said dies in timed relationship.

3. A device for setting up into hollow box form fiat box blanks having a main panel, wall panels articulated to the main panel and flaps articulated to said wall panels, the device comprising, a die having first folding elements for engaging and folding said wall panels, said first elements bordering a main die aperture; auxiliary f folding elements for engaging and folding said flaps, said auxiliary folding elements being mounted on said die in advance of said main die aperture; a magazine having a withdrawal gate through which blanks .are withdrawn; a main plunger movable past said `auxiliary folding elements and through said main die aperture; a feeder head having suction elements for` grasping a box blank; folding rules on said head, said rules extending substantially parallel to said auxiliary folding elements and bearing against the surface of a flat blank grasped by said `suction elements; an arm supporting said feeder head; means for pivotally mounting said arm alongside the path of the main plunger with freedom of oscillatory movement about :an axis normal to the main plunger axis, into, and out of, the path of the main plunger 'and with freedom of translatory movement towards, Aand away from said die and towards and away from, said gate; and means for moving said main plunger and said arm lalternately towards said die in timed relationship.

4. A device for setting up into hollow box form dat box blanks having a main panel, wall panels articulated to the main panel and naps articulated to said wall panels, the device comprising, a die having first folding elements for engaging and folding said wall panels, said first elements bordering a substantially rectangular main die aperture; auxiliary folding elements for engaging and folding said naps, said auxiliary folding elements being mounted on said die at the corners of said aperture and in advance of said main die aperture, said 'auxiliary folding elements having abutment portions projecting towards said aperture for engaging edges of the folded flaps cf a blank moved into the space between said auxiliary folding elements and preventing withdrawal in a direction away from the aperture; a main plunger movable past said auxiliary folding elements and through said main die aperture; a feeder head having suction elements for grasping a box blank; folding rules on said head, said rules extending substantially parallel 10 to said auxiliary folding elements; and means for moving said main plunger through said main Idie aperture and for moving said head towards said main die aperture and past said auxiliary folding elements in alternating order.

5. A device for setting up into hollow box form dat box blanks having a main panel, wall panels articulated to the main panel and flaps articulated to said wall panels, the device comprising, a die having first folding elements for engaging and folding said wall panels, said first elements bordering a substantially rectangular main die aperture; auxiliary folding elements for engaging and folding said flaps, said auxiliary folding elements being mounted on said die in advance of said `die aperture, said auxiliary folding elements having blank engaging surfaces substantially parallel with the sides of the die aperture; a main plunger movable past said auxiliary folding elements and through said main die aperture; a feeder head having suction elements for grasping a box blank; folding rules on said head, said rules being substantially L- shaped in :plan view, in the position in which the head rests over said die aperture, the vertex of the L being at the corners 0f the aperture and the legs of the L pointing away from said aperture substantially in line with the sides of the aperture; retaining means mounted on said die for engaging and retaining a partially folded blank against withdrawal from said die during movement of said feeder head away from said die; and means for reciprocating said main plunger through said main die aperture and for reciprocating, alternatingly with said plunger, said head past said auxiliary folding elements and said retaining means.

G. A device for setting up into hollow box form dat box blanks having a main panel, wall panels articulated to the main panel and flaps articulated to said wall panels, the device comprising, a die having first folding elements for engaging .and folding said wall panels, said first elements bordering a substantially rectangular main die aperture; auxiliary folding elements for engaging and folding said flaps, said auxiliary folding elements bein-g mounted on said die substantially at the corners of said main die aperture and in advance of said main die aperture; -a main plunger movable past said auxiliary folding elements yand through said main die aperture; a feeder head having suction elements for grasping a box blank; folding rules on said head, said rules extending substantially parallel to said `auxiliary folding elements in a position to bear against the surface of a fiat blank grasped by the feeder head; movable members on said die substantially at the corners of said die aperture, said movable members 'being projectable into the path of said main plunger and against a blank folded about the plunger to flex said blank; means for biasing said members towards their retracted position; means operable by the plunger for moving said members into projected position during passage of said main plunger through said die; an arm supporting said feeder head; means for pivotally mounting said arm alongside the path of the main plunger with freedom of oscillatory movement about an axis normal to the main plunger axis, into, and out of, the path of the main plunger and with freedom of translatory movement towards, and away from said folding element towards and away from a point of blank delivery; and means for moving said 'I1 plunger and said arm alternately towards said folding elements in timed relationship.

7. A device for setting up into hollow box form flat box blanks having a main panel, wall panels articulated to the main panel and flaps artcu lated to said wal1 panels, the device comprising, a die having first folding elements for engaging and folding said wall panels, said first elements bordering a substantially rectangular main die aperture; auxiliary folding elements for engaging and folding said naps, said auxiliary folding elements being mounted on said die substantially at the corners of said main die aperture and in advance of said main aperture, said auxiliary folding elements having abutment portions in their sides for Aengaging edges of the folded naps of a blank moved into the space between said auxiliary folding elements and retaining the partially folded blank between said auxiliary folding elements; a main plunger movable past said auxiliary folding elements and through said main die aperture; said plunger having recessed corners; a feeder head having suction elements for grasping a box blank; folding rules on said head, said rules extending substantially parallel to said auxiliary folding .elements in a position to bear :against the surface of a flat blank grasped by said feeder head; movable members on said die substantially at the corners of said die aperture, said movable members being projectable into the path of said main plunger towards said recessed plunger ycorners to deflect portions of a blank on said vplunger into said recessed corners; means for biasing said members towards their retracted position; means operable by the plunger for moving said members into projected position during passage of said main plunger through said die; and means for moving said main plunger through said main die aperture and for moving said head towards said main die aperture and past said auxiliary folding elements, in alternating order.

8. A'device for setting up folding boxes from nat box blanks, the device comprising, a main plunger; a main die having a die aperture through which said main plunger is movable; an auxiliary die in advance of said main die; a suction gripper; a gripper arm carrying said gripper; a magazine having a Withdrawal gate through which blanks are Withdrawn; blank folding elements on said gripper arm in a position to bear against the surface of a flat blank grasped by said gripper, said elements cooperating with said auxiliary die to fold the flat blank when said elements enter said auxiliary die; means for mounting saidmain plunger for straight line movement to said dies; means for supporting said gripper arm on the side of the path of the main plunger with freedom of oscillatory movement about an axis angular with regard to the main plunger axis, into and out of, the path of the l2 main plunger and with freedom of translator-y movement towards and away from, said dies, and towards, and away from, said gate; and means for moving said main plunger and said gripper arm alternately towards said dies in timed relationship.

9. A pre-flexing mechanism for box blanks having scores, the mechanism comprising, a die having an aperture through which the box blank is moved; at least one blank engaging projecting member on said die in advance of said die aperture; a feeder head movable towards, and away from, said aperture, said head including at least one .suction cup for grasping the blank; a folding element mounted on said head, said folding element having a blank engaging portion lying in substantially the plane of the mouth of said suction cup; and means for moving said feeder head towards said aperture suniciently far for the said engaging portion to move past the top end of said projecting member closer towards said aperture than the top of said projecting member.

10. A pre-flexing mechanism for box blanks having scores, the mechanism comprising, a die having an aperture through which the box blank is moved; at least one blank engaging projecting member on said die in advance of said die aperture, said projecting member having a side surface; a feeder head movable towards, and away from, said aperture, said head including at least one suction cup for grasping the blank; a foiding rule mounted on said head, said folding rule having a blank engaging portion lying in projecting member.

substantially the plane of the mouth of said suction cup and substantially parallel to the side wall of the projecting member; and means for moving said feeder head towards said aperture suniciently far for said engaging edge to move past the top end of said projecting member closer towards said` aperture than the top of said THOR/LAS R. BAKER. FRANK LEFIEF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

